The Challenge
When one of the world’s largest offshore wind developments – situated in the North Sea – experienced installation complexities, Ternan was the company to contact to provide expert technical guidance, helping our Client maintain project timelines for delivery and budgets.
With subsequent installation phases fast approaching and substantial investment at stake, it was recognised that more than standard oversight was needed – our Client needed a trusted advisor to dig into the technical details while providing a practical engineering perspective. The Developer posed Ternan with a critical question: “Were there any areas that could benefit from further attention before progressing to the next phase?”
Our Solution
“When we first reviewed the project documentation, we saw patterns that echoed challenges we’ve encountered on other North Sea installations. The difference with our approach is that we don’t just identify problems – we provide practical mitigation strategies and solutions.” Mark Finch, Ternan’s Founder & CEO.
Drawing on our extensive experience across the monopile design-to-installation lifecycle, we delivered:
- 360° Technical Review: We meticulously examined site investigation data including cone penetration test (CPT) results and borehole logs, audited engineering studies and installation assessments, and reviewed offshore installation procedures and practices to build a complete picture
- Critical Ground Model Reassessment: We challenged assumptions in the existing ground model that lead to an oversight of present risks that potentially contributed to the unexpected installation behaviour
- Independent Installation Analyses: Our team evaluated pile driving assessments completed for the project and compared with driving records from other phases, reviewing the chosen methodologies and driving predictions for the soil conditions and comparing them with the offshore observations
Risk Prioritisation Overview: Provided our experienced judgment on the current installation risk level and the feasibility of the proposed mitigation measures aimed at de-risking the subsequent installation phase.
The Ternan Approach
As a team that has spent significant periods on vessels during installation campaigns and in project offices during design phases, we bridge the gap between theoretical engineering and practical implementation – something that proved invaluable on this project:
Technical Depth with Practical Perspective
Our review identified a number of opportunities to strengthen both the engineering analyses and offshore installation practices. This focused on reducing risk and ensuring a more integrated approach between design intent and execution in the field.
These insights didn’t come from following a checklist – it came from our team’s practical experience in performing design and installation activities for offshore foundations, and from having spent time offshore during pile and monopile installation campaigns. That perspective was critical in recognising the gap between what was assumed on paper and what actually happens in the field.
Collaborative Problem-Solving
Rather than simply delivering a report highlighting issues, Ternan worked closely with our Client’s project engineering team to ensure our findings could be immediately actionable:
- Identified the root cause and supported with finding potential solutions
- Helped prioritise mitigation measures based on implementation feasibility
- Highlighted opportunities to improve documentation of identified pile run risk and guidance on managing this offshore
Connecting Data to Decisions
“In our experience, the interface between design and practical installation is where many projects encounter difficulties,” explains Mark. Ternan’s review process takes a holistic approach – linking engineering analyses with installation operations – to ensure that critical risks, such as those related to pile installation, are fully integrated and addressed.
Measurable Outcomes
While we recognise that no technical review can eliminate all risks – especially in the challenging North Sea environment – our work delivered tangible benefits that better positioned our Client for a more successful installation campaign:
- Industry Insights: Provided clarity on the work completed to date and its alignment with what is considered ‘good offshore wind industry practice’
- Risk Qualification: Assessed project installation risks based on previous installation results and provided recommendations to reduce any residual risks to a tolerable level
- Enhanced Installation Protocols: Identified opportunities to enhance documentation of pile run risk and improve how high-risk locations are managed offshore
- Contractual Clarity: Highlighted deficiencies in site reporting and design assessments, with a focus on minimising potential ground risk disputes with the Contractor
- Possible Mitigations: Gave guidance on pile run mitigation measures that may be viable for application offshore using the current installation vessel spread
As James Deacon, our Geotechnical Manager, noted: “Sometimes the most valuable outcome isn’t finding something new – it’s providing the confidence that comes from having an independent team confirm you’re on the right track, with specific adjustments to optimise the end result.”
The Client Perspective
The Project Manager for this development, valued both our technical insights and our practical approach: “We requested Ternan’s expert technical opinion on what was quite a broad project brief but in its completion they managed to add value and help to de-risk the project. This work was executed and delivered within the timescales agreed, on budget and to a very high standard. The team were very pleasant and easy to work with.”
That last point matters to us – because technical excellence without effective collaboration rarely delivers optimal results.
Why Ternan?
In offshore wind, foundation issues discovered late can create cascading impacts on project timelines and budgets. We’ve seen it happen too often: the practicalities of installation get insufficient attention during early design phases, and unexpected problems arise when it’s most costly to address them.
Our team has grown alongside the offshore wind industry, evolving from our origins in oil and gas to become specialist advisors in the renewable sector. This journey gives us perspective across the entire project lifecycle that purely design-focused or installation-focused analyses cannot.
As a 100% employee-owned consultancy with no external shareholders or conflicting commercial interests, we provide genuinely independent insights. When we tell you something’s right – or wrong – you can trust it’s based solely on technical merit and practical experience, not because we’re positioning for the next contract or protecting past decisions.
For developers facing the complex challenges of offshore wind installation, our technical due diligence provides that crucial second opinion that can make the difference between costly delays and smooth execution.
Looking to de-risk your next offshore wind project? Contact our technical due diligence specialists: James Deacon, Geoscience Manager, james.deacon@ternan-energy.com Mark Finch, Founder and CEO, mark.finch@ternan-energy.com